What width tires is everyone running and why? I'm looking for width ONLY NOT tread pattern, that's another question for another day.

Heres my thoughts on it; I'm running 33X12.5, but I'm really thinking about going back to a skinner tire (9.5-10.5), I believe they would perform better both on and off road. The USA is really the only place in the world where we go with very wide tire, why?... Is it all aesthetics and or performance? Wider tires take more hp to break the suction of mud, and surface area to roll through, between rocks and stumps and so on. Looking at what the rest of the world is running like the Aussies, I'm not sure if we run very wide tires for aesthetics or performance. So I'm really undecided so far on which is best, but I'm really thinking 9.5-10.5 is the best width for a Jeep.

I know wider tires look great but... (Wider tires all started with Mad magazine, lol)

Please give us your thoughts about this.

Wheelon my Friends!

Imped

11-16-2013 12:41 PM

I much prefer anything smaller than a 35 in <12.50 (or metric equivalent) widths. I love 33x10.50's. After running 37x12.50's for a while, 33x12.50's look like short, fat ballons. Even 35's look a bit too wide for their height.

AntiPrius

11-16-2013 12:59 PM

Some of the reason for 12.5" is for looks, but it's kind of become the standard for a 33" tire for a 15" wheel. If people weren't forced to either use BFG or the ultra-heavy Toyo M/T, you'd probably see more using the 10.5". I've considered it myself and figured it would drive better on the highway if nothing else, although mine drives good as is, but I don't want to run BFG or Toyo. Another thing is most aftermarket 15" wheels are 8" wide minimum, and a 7" wheel would be better for a 10.5" if one likes to air down their tires off road.

I find the 10.5" to look a bit too skinny, and think the 285/75/16 has a great width to height ratio, but I don't want the added expense of running 16" tires and the load range E that comes with them.

aparke4

11-16-2013 01:00 PM

I've contacted BFG about making the AT and km2 in a 35x10.50x15 and 16 and they said they have had many requests but the tooling and molds are too much to make plus it is way low on the priority list.

I would think jeepers, Toyo guys and expedition vehicles could benefit from this size and tire weight. I would love a 35x10.50 BFg at but would kill for a km2 in that size!

Maybe one day- as off now, interco makes a tsl radial but it's close to 70 lbs.

My new BFg at 35x12.50x15 weighs 54 lbs and looks great on a 15x8 rim but that really is the only size tire I can run for both function and weight purposes.

numchuck

11-16-2013 05:39 PM

I don't know what's best - but I like my 285/75R16's . Just last week I bought a set of KM2's . Before I had the original style MT/R's . I think they measure 11.3 inches in width, according to BF Goodrich and Goodyear . I think a wider tire can sometimes reduce your traction because the weight of the jeep is spread over a larger contact patch . Whatever size you choose , just ensure that your wheels are wide enough to properly support them . I know that many feel that a narrower wheel can offer better support when the tire is aired down for off-road use ; but on the highway , the tire will wear faster than it should in the tread's center. You wouldn't believe the miles I got out of my MT/R's .

AntiPrius

11-16-2013 06:16 PM

My 33x12.5's have not worn down in the center with 8" wheels. Over inflation is what wears the centers down.

wilson1010

11-16-2013 07:02 PM

I think 12.5's tend to wander around on roads with ruts and ridges more than 10.5's. 33x10.5 is a great road tire for a Wrangler. 35x 12.5 better for the trails, at least around here.

fastfreddie

11-16-2013 07:26 PM

Fat tires float.
Skinny tires dig.

SLADE

11-21-2013 07:03 AM

Doesn't really matter what you want or prefer, your limited to the width that the manufacturer makes. The difference in width between one tire and another is so minimal that it's really not that significant.

Choose a tire that fits your needs and the width will already be determined by the height you need.

wilson1010

11-21-2013 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLADE
(Post 17886098)

Choose a tire that fits your needs and the width will already be determined by the height you need.

Huh?

222Doc

11-21-2013 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLADE
(Post 17886098)

Doesn't really matter what you want or prefer, your limited to the width that the manufacturer makes. The difference in width between one tire and another is so minimal that it's really not that significant.

Choose a tire that fits your needs and the width will already be determined by the height you need.

That sounds like the pitch for the new health care. Don't matter what you NEED. Take what we force on you to buy.

anyway rims that create the pinch from being a bit narrow just dont use tha max PSI on the side wall. more like 28psi.

If you really wheel. the tire will chunk out. the out side edge first as it rounds off. I can tell what a Jeep wheels by the tires. so in the end the center is not going to wear as fast as that out side. unless people do run the max preasure on a sidewall of say a E is what freeking 70psi? sure if you are towing a 10,ooo pound trailer in your f350

KKiowaTJ

11-21-2013 12:34 PM

Ill never run anything less than a 12.50. Tall pizza cutters look like **** and perform on par as how they look. Yeah, You might save a mpg, But id rather have a full contact patch and the most available width possible in my size to obtain it.

wilson1010

11-21-2013 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KKiowaTJ
(Post 17894690)

Ill never run anything less than a 12.50. Tall pizza cutters look like **** and perform on par as how they look. Yeah, You might save a mpg, But id rather have a full contact patch and the most available width possible in my size to obtain it.

The contact patch of a 12.5 tire and a 10.5 tire at the same internal psi is exactly the same size. Just a little different shape. One is a little wider, one a little longer. And, there are fans of both shapes. It really depends on the terrain. In mud, some guys say that a wider tire is pushing more mud in front of the tire. I don't have an opinion on that. Just saying. But, on rocks, I doubt it makes any noticeable difference.

biffgnar

11-22-2013 09:45 AM

22 Attachment(s)

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilson1010
(Post 17909482)

But, on rocks, I doubt it makes any noticeable difference.

In rocks and aired down (let's say mid single digits), I'd much rather have a wider tire (being reasonable) than a narrower tire.

wilson1010

11-22-2013 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffgnar
(Post 17919466)

In rocks and aired down (let's say mid single digits), I'd much rather have a wider tire (being reasonable) than a narrower tire.

I can see that. The wider the tire the more likely to gain traction on a part of the terrain.